The bill to set up a regulatory structure for dealing with the potential new crop of industrial hemp has been strong, weak, even dead several times this legislative session. Its prime backer, Ag Commissioner James Comer, says it's still alive, and talks are going on the next several days to drag some version of it across the Capitol finish line.

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Comer says the key in those negotiations will be a Friday meeting between the bill's sponsor, Shelbyville Republican Senator Paul Hornback, and Democratic House majority floor leader Rocky Adkins. Comer says he hopes the pair can hammer out an agreement that doesn't hurt Kentucky's ability to gain a potential federal waiver to legally grow hemp.

Comer says if some form of the bill does pass and get signed by the Governor, he and other officials will be "on the next plane" to Washington, where a delegation including Congressman John Yarmuth and Senator Rand Paul will help request the waiver from the federal Department of Agriculture.